Saturday, March 27, 2010

SALVATION BY GRACE?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
ARE WE SAVED BY GRACE AND WORKS
OR BY GOD'S GIFT OF GRACE ALONE?

JUSTIFIED TO GOD BY FAITH
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law." Romans 3:28 NKJV

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD." Romans 5:1-2 NKJV


IF YOU CAN BE RIGHTEOUS OBEYING THE LAW, THEN WHY DID WE NEED JESUS TO SACRIFICE HIS LIFE ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS?
"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."  
Galatians 2:21 NKJV


WHAT IS SALVATION BY GRACE?
AFTER WE ARE SAVED, WE ARE CREATED TO DO HIS GOOD WORKS
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been SAVED through FAITH; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of WORKS, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:4-10 NAS


GRACE IS GOD's VALUABLE FREE GIFT.
(If someone gave you a gift and made you work and earn it, would it still be a free gift?)
"But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in Justification." Romans 5:15-16 NKJV

WAGES ARE PAYMENTS FOR OUR WORKS
"For the WAGES of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 NKJV
"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 NAS

HOW ARE WE JUSTIFIED BY WORKS?
After we are saved by grace through faith; we show the world our faith through the love of Christ by doing good works.
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? James 2:14-16 NKJV


OUR FAITH IS DEAD IF WE DO NOTHING
"Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 
You believe that GOD is one. You do well; the demons also BELIEVE, and shudder." James 2:17-19 NAS


MERELY BELIEVING THAT JESUS EXISTS IS NOT FAITH.  Demons believe in Jesus; but they are rebellious and don't trust in him. 
"So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be SAVED, you and your household."   
Acts 16:31 NKJV

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil." 
Proverbs 3:5-7 NAS


GRACE AND WORKS ARE POLAR OPPOSITES
"And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." Romans 11:6 NKJV


THE LAW REVEALS US THAT WE ARE SINNERS NEEDING A SAVOIR
"...for ALL have SINNED and fall short of the glory of God, being justified FREELY by His GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24 NKJV


JESUS LOVES YOU
"But God demonstrates His own LOVE toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 NKJV


CONFESS AND BELIEVE
"...that if you confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus and believe in your heart that God has saved Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." Romans 10:9-10 NKJV


CALL ON THE NAME OF JESUS
"For whoever calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." Romans 10:13 NKJV
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 NKJV